News from January 28, 2025 at 2 PM

Tens of thousands of people are fleeing towns in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as rebel forces approach the city of Goma. Explosions and gunshots were heard in Goma on Sunday evening. A rebel spokesman stated they would seize control of Goma at 03:00 local time. Earlier, DR Congo's foreign minister accused Rwanda of supporting M23 rebels, which Rwanda denies, claiming a defensive stance. The M23 rebels, who have controlled vast mineral-rich areas since 2021, urged Congolese troops in Goma to surrender to avoid bloodshed. Over 400,000 people have been displaced in North and South Kivu provinces since the start of 2025. UN Secretary General António Guterres called for Rwanda to withdraw and for the M23 to halt their advance. This follows the death of 13 peacekeepers in clashes with rebels. The UK and France have called for an end to attacks on peacekeepers and for Rwanda to withdraw its troops.

Denmark has announced it will invest 14.6 billion kroner (approximately £1.6 billion or $2.05 billion) in partnership with its autonomous territories Greenland and the Faroe Islands to enhance security in the Arctic region. The plan includes three new Arctic ships, additional long-range drones with advanced imaging capabilities, and stronger satellite capacity. Denmark's Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated that serious security and defense challenges exist in the Arctic and North Atlantic. This move follows US President Donald Trump's repeated expressions of interest in acquiring Greenland, an island with wide-ranging autonomy but still part of Denmark. Greenland, the world's most sparsely populated territory, is home to about 56,000 predominantly indigenous Inuit people. The US has long maintained a security interest in Greenland, establishing military and radio stations there during World War II. Greenland's strategic location on the shortest route from North America to Europe makes it significant for the US. In recent years, there has been growing interest in Greenland's natural resources, including rare earth minerals, uranium, and iron.

Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic will hold an emergency press conference at 11:00 a.m. (10:00 a.m. GMT) on January 28, during which he will announce his resignation. According to the Vecernje Novosti newspaper, it was confirmed that the reason for the PM's emergency address was his decision to resign due to ongoing student protests. This resignation has garnered significant attention, with the student protests being the catalyst.

Google announced on Monday that it will rename the Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America' following updates in official government sources. The company also stated it will start using Mount McKinley, currently known as Denali. Last week, President Donald Trump signed executive actions ordering the name changes on official maps and federal communications. Google noted that the Gulf of Mexico will retain its original name in Mexico, while users in other countries will see both names. Trump plans to restore the name of former President William McKinley to a mountain now referred to as Denali in Alaska, citing McKinley's contributions to the country's wealth through tariffs and talent. The mountain was named Mount McKinley until 2015, when the Obama administration changed it to Denali as a symbolic gesture to Alaska Natives.

A Russian delegation arrived in Damascus on Tuesday for the first time since the ousting of Moscow's ally, President Bashar al-Assad. The delegation, including Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov and Kremlin special envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev, is expected to hold talks with Syria's new rulers. Two Syrian sources earlier told Reuters that discussions between the delegation and Syria's leadership were scheduled in Damascus this week. Russia, which provided refuge and military support to Assad against rebel forces before his downfall, aims to retain its two bases in Syria: the naval facility in Tartous and the Hmeimim air base near the port city of Latakia. The Tartous facility serves as Russia's sole Mediterranean repair and replenishment hub, and Moscow has used Syria as a staging post for its military contractors traveling to and from Africa.

To boost tourism and economic development, New Zealand has relaxed its visitor visa regulations, allowing travelers to work remotely while on vacation. Immigration Minister Stanford announced that the visa policy adjustment, effective January 27, applies to general tourists, family visit visa holders, and dependents of long-term visa holders. Digital nomad visas are popular in other countries, and New Zealand aims to attract high-skilled professionals, particularly IT talents from Southeast Asia and the United States. Economic Growth Minister Willis stated that the new policy is designed to position New Zealand as a welcoming destination for global talent and encourage visitors and their companies to engage in more business with New Zealand. The country's economy entered a technical recession in the third quarter of last year, and the tourism sector has not fully recovered, with current international visitor numbers at about 86% of 2019 levels.

The first confirmed case of H5N9 bird flu in poultry was detected on a duck farm in Merced County, California, marking the first instance of this strain in the US, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health. The case was not publicly announced by US health officials due to the Trump administration's pause on government communications on health topics. Experts are concerned this could delay the release of crucial information. H5N9 is a highly pathogenic bird flu strain, and its emergence is causing concern. The US Department of Agriculture and state officials are investigating the case. While there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission, experts emphasize the need to closely monitor the virus for mutations.

On January 27, 2025, Swedish authorities seized the Maltese-flagged ship Vezhen, suspected of damaging an undersea data cable running to Latvia in the Baltic Sea. The ship is currently anchored outside the Swedish port of Karlskrona. Preliminary investigations suggest sabotage, with Sweden's police, military, and coast guard involved in the inquiry. Bulgarian shipping company Navigation Maritime Bulgare claimed the ship's anchor dropped due to high winds, denying malicious intent. Latvia's military reported three ships in the area where the damage occurred. NATO recently launched a new mission in the Baltic Sea in response to repeated attacks on underwater cables. Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina stated her country is working closely with Sweden and NATO. The damaged cable belongs to Latvia's state broadcaster LVRTC, which reported minor disruptions. NATO's new Baltic Sentry mission includes more patrol aircraft, warships, and drones. NATO chief Mark Rutte vowed to step up monitoring of Russia's 'shadow fleet' and respond robustly to future incidents. Finnish police are also investigating a Russian ship's involvement in a separate cable sabotage between Finland and Estonia.

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer stated that Hamas has killed 8 of the 26 hostages due to be released in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. Since the ceasefire began on January 19, seven women have been freed in exchange for over 290 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that Hamas agreed to release a female civilian, a female soldier, and another hostage on Thursday, with three more to be released on Saturday. Since Hamas's unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, more than 47,310 people have been killed in Gaza. Israel claims 87 hostages remain in captivity, with 34 presumed dead. Hostage families express concern over the remaining hostages' status and urge the government to ensure the implementation of all phases of the agreement.

On July 31, 2018, James McHenry testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill. The U.S. Department of Justice fired officials involved in the now-terminated federal criminal prosecutions of President Donald Trump by former special counsel Jack Smith on Monday. This action came a week after Trump was sworn in for a second, non-consecutive term. Acting Attorney General James McHenry terminated the employment of these DOJ officials, stating he did not trust them to implement the President's agenda faithfully. The fired officials included Molly Gaston, J.P. Cooney, Anne McNamara, and Mary Dohrmann. Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance criticized the firings as anti-rule of law and anti-democracy. Smith had filed criminal charges against Trump in two separate cases in federal district courts in Washington, D.C., and South Florida, related to the 2020 election interference and retention of classified documents, but both cases were dismissed.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has recalled a range of soft drinks, including Coke, Fanta, and Sprite, in Europe due to excessive levels of chlorate. These products have been distributed in Belgium, the Netherlands, Britain, Germany, France, and Luxembourg since November. The company advises consumers to return cans and bottles with production codes from 328 GE to 338 GE. According to Jefferies analyst Edward Mundy, the impact of the recall is likely limited, with most affected products already withdrawn. Britain's Food Standards Agency is investigating the presence of these products in the British market and will take action to remove any unsafe items and alert consumers.

The radical Palestinian group Islamic Jihad released a video of a woman identifying herself as Israeli hostage Arbel Yehud. In the video, she states she is in good health and held by Saraya al-Quds militants. She calls on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump to guarantee the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli prime minister's office said Hamas, an ally of Islamic Jihad, will release Yehud, expected on January 30 along with female soldier Agam Berger and another undisclosed hostage. In exchange, the Israel Defense Forces will allow Gaza residents to move into the northern part of the enclave starting January 27. Previously, thanks to mediation by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire and hostage release agreement, with Hamas releasing 33 hostages in the first phase in exchange for Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

In 2011, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich was photographed on his superyacht Eclipse during Christmas, despite it being chartered by a company in the British Virgin Islands. An investigation by the BBC and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism revealed a decade-long scheme where Abramovich's fleet of yachts was falsely presented as a commercial leasing operation to evade millions in VAT. Five luxury yachts, including the 162.5m Eclipse, were involved in the tax dodge. Leaked files from MeritServus showed how Abramovich's advisers used a network of companies he controlled to avoid taxes. Despite legal scrutiny, Abramovich denies any knowledge or personal responsibility for the scheme.

French police are investigating death threats against a judge and two prosecutors involved in the corruption trial of far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who could be barred from the 2027 presidential election. Le Pen and her National Rally (RN) party are accused of misusing European funds. Prosecutors are seeking a five-year ban from public office for Le Pen. The threats appeared in the comments section of the far-right website Riposte Laïque. Paris police have launched an investigation. The website claims to have deleted the threats, but archived versions remain accessible. The threats have raised concerns about judicial independence in France.

US journalist Tucker Carlson stated on Monday that former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken effectively led the Biden administration, attempting to provoke a war between the United States and Russia. In an interview with journalist Matt Taibi, Carlson claimed that Blinken did everything possible in the last two months to accelerate the US-Russia conflict, actions he deemed should be illegal. He also noted that Blinken's actions were demonstrably evil and stupid, with his 'fingerprints' evident everywhere. Carlson further expressed confidence that Blinken had de-facto led the administration and played the role of the president for several months, continuously pushing for an actual war with Russia.